(AP) UNCASVILLE, CONN. On Friday night, Marina Mabrey led the Connecticut Sun to a 78-62 victory over the struggling New York Liberty with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
Breanna Stewart was not present, and the Liberty (17–10) suffered their fourth straight defeat. The great forward’s right knee has a bone bruise, but she is getting better. In addition, New York had just eight healthy players due to the absence of Kennedy Burke (right calf strain) and Nyara Sabally (knee).
The team is now experiencing its longest losing run since the squad’s five-game and seven-game skids in 2022. Additionally, Connecticut’s home victory against New York ended that year.
The 2019 WNBA Finals MVP, Emma Meesseman, joined the team on Friday. She dressed but did not play because she was still acclimating to the team. When the teams play again in Connecticut on Sunday, coach Sandy Brondello anticipates seeing her in the starting lineup.
It was a significant win for the Sun (5-21), a youthful squad trying to find its identity. Leila Lacan and Olivia Nelson-Ododa, both reserves, each had 16. Tina Charles contributed fifteen.
After the first quarter, Connecticut was behind 20–15, but they quickly overtook them in the second. Charles made a jumper shortly before the halftime horn, giving the Sun a 44-37 lead at the half. In the first 20 minutes, the Sun had a 50% field goal percentage.
After Mabrey’s 3-pointer with 3:36 remaining in the third, the team maintained their momentum and increased their lead to 56-46. With five minutes remaining, Stephanie Talbot’s layup brought New York, which was playing its sixth game in eleven days, within 69-62. However, that was the team’s final point total.
New York had 21 turnovers and 23 points from Sabrina Ionescu and 14 from Jonquel Jones.
